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East County | Neighbors

  • By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
  • December 19, 2024
A New Lease on Life, Following Weight-Loss Surgery

For years Russell tried to lose weight through exercise, dieting and medications, but nothing seemed to help. Her decision to finally turn to weight-loss surgery at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was in part, because of her profession as a licensed practical nurse.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Sponsored Content
Mike and Sandy Sobzack return home to East County for the holidays. The couple stop by the University Park Country Club for lunch on Dec. 9.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 18, 2024
East County world travelers stop home for the holidays

Mike and Sandy Sobzack set off on a whirlwind retirement tour around the world in March.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Two-yeear-old Wells Whitehead and his mom Aston Whitehead visit with Santa before the Tara Holiday Golf Cart Parade Dec. 13.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 18, 2024
18 holes of community fun at Tara Golf and Country Club

Neighbors decorated their golf carts and themselves to enjoy the Tara Holiday Golf Cart Parade.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Laura and John Bourjaily are grateful to be celebrating Christmas together.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 18, 2024
Tara resident saved by daughter's kidney donation

John Bourjaily feels blessed to be alive this Christmas after receiving a kidney from his daughter.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
This giant Santa is new to the University Town Center's holiday display.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 17, 2024
University Town Center holiday lights get bigger and brighter

A 25-foot Santa and 15-foot snowman, imported from Italy, are new to this year's display.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
A laser light show will cap New Year's Eve festivities at Waterside Place.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • December 17, 2024
Biggest Lakewood Ranch holiday events ready to kick off

Everything you need to know about the upcoming Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's celebrations this season in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
East County first graders write letters to Santa
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 16, 2024
East County first graders write letters to Santa

With Santa soon on the way, East County children are sending off their letters to the North Pole in the hope that a wish or two is granted.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Myakka’s wildlife respond favorably to the habitat restoration zone, which prevents human disturbances and improves their habitats.
    By
  • Miri Hardy
  • December 16, 2024
Habitat Restoration zone returns to Myakka

By reducing human disturbances, temporary fencing protects plants and wildlife, while offering visitors superior wildlife viewing opportunities.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch's Richard Pierson, who checks out the cap gun exhibit at his Sarasota Toy Museum, says toys have declined for a while, but he expects a resurgence.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • December 16, 2024
Lakewood Ranch toy aficionado hopes to spread passion to local kids

Richard Pierson has seen a shift in the way toys are appreciated.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Oscar Mayer 'hotdoggers' Kaitlin Goldstein and Cooper Albert drive around the country to spread brand awareness and tease out some smiles.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • December 15, 2024
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile serves smiles to Lakewood Ranch

Nostalgia and photo opportunities were aplenty when the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile arrived in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Guests line up for food trucks at Ranch Nite Wednesday on Dec. 11 at Waterside Place.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 13, 2024
Ranch Nite Wednesday has residents coming back for seconds

The temperature dropped, but the food was still warm.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Winners of each age group (8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 years old) received trophies for their performance at the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Hoop Shoot at Carlos E. Haile Middle School on Monday, Dec. 9.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • December 11, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Elks Hoop Shoot puts youth basketball in the spotlight

Six Hoop Shoot winners will advance to the district tournament in Sarasota

  • East County
  • Sports
Ian and Amanda Huezo, Jessica Mendez, Executive Director Lynn Rasys and Mendez's friend Erica Molinar attend Farm to Table Tampa Bay in November. The event benefited the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 11, 2024
Florida nonprofit eases the financial stress of cancer

The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation covers the cost of living expenses for patients actively undergoing cancer treatment.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Owen Han is joined by his sister Olimpia Ruzbacki and her children Hawk, Haze and Cypress.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 10, 2024
'Sandwich King' Owen Han returns to Out of Door Academy

Han graduated in 2016 and went on to become a culinary influencer.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Dave and Shannon Eakle join Mary and Al McNicola at the River Club's Rockin' Reindeer Ball Dec. 8 at University Park Country Club.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 9, 2024
Rockin' Reindeer Ball brings River Club residents together

The semi-formal event, held this year at University Park Country Club, is a purely social affair.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
« 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 »
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Latest in East County

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
3
Greenbrook's David, Hannah and Jaime Marco all had a part in creating Jaime Marco's new book “Unfunkt: Quiet the Noise. Ignite the Light.”
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'
4
SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson
5
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

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